Bottle cap



' D 1942- R. SOIQNNENBERG 2,305,744

BOTTLE CAP Filed June 24, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 1 r v IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIYQI' Dec. 22, 1942. 'SONNENBERG 2305,744-

BOTTLE CAP Filed June 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1942. R. SONNENBERG 2,305,744

BOTTLE CAP Filed June 24, 1938 s Sheets-Shet 3 Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES BOTTLE CAP Rudolph Sonnenberg,

rotation of Illinois Application June 24,

(Claims.

This invention relates to bottle caps and to methods for making same, and is directed primarily to caps of the type commonly formed of paper and used on milk bottles.

An important obstacle to the universal use of the type of milk bottle cap known as hood caps, that is, caps which cover the outer surface of the bottleneck, has been the matter of expense.

These caps have been expensive because of the material of the paper stock which it has been necessary to employ therein, because of the large amount of stock required, because of the expense relative to the application of these caps .to the bottles, and because, in some instances, it has been expensive to recondition the bottles for subsequent use.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a cap of the character described which may be applied to the bottles at lesser expense than caps of the same class heretofore known Another object of the invention is theprovision of a bottle cap which may be applied to the bottle with the same speed and facility as the standard form of cap. a 7

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cap which involves no increase in the cost of reconditioning the bottle.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of asubstantially waterproof cap which is self sealing and may be applied ,to the bottles by means of a machine capper.

I have also aimed to provide an improved method for making caps of the class described wherein the caps are formed from strip material by a consecutive series of cutting and forming operations, the caps being packaged substantially simultaneously with the last forming operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an expanded top view of one embodiment of my invention; I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary-longitudinal section through a cap package, showingthe caps stocked therein;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of a cap showing the pre-formed shape thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section through the neck of a milk bottle showing the manner in operation proceeds;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a milk bottle showing the cap applied thereto;

Fig. 6 is a developed view along the line 6-8 of Fig. 5;

which the capping I Belvidere, iil., assignor to Mid-West Bottle Cap 00., Belvidere, 111., a cor- 1938, Serial No. 215,566 (01. zit-as) Fig. 7 is a section on Fig. 8 is a top which the capshown in Figs. 1 and 2 are formed, showingthe steps of the method;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section through the neck of the milk bottle showing a modified form the line 'l-l of 5; I

of the cap applied thereto, which embodies my invention;

. Figs. 10 and 11 are top views of a strip of stock showing the steps of methods for forming the caps shown in Fig. 9; 1

- Fig. 12 is an expanded top view of a-further embodiment o'f'the invention;

Fig. 13 is a bottom view of the cap shown in Fig. 12 showing the manner in which the skirt is folded;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary side view. partly in section showing the cap applied to a bottle;

Fig. 15 is a developed view on the line iii-l5 of Fig. '14, and

Fi 161s a section on Referring first to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. the invention contemplates a bottle cap of the so-called hood style, commonly known in thetrade as a hood cap, though not necessarily limited thereto. In this instance the cap is formed from a circular or disklike shape l8, the disk having a laterally disposed tab it extending outwardly beyond the periphery of the disk to facilitate the removal of the cap .from the bottle. Understanding of the structure of the cap will be facilitated. by a description of the method of making the same, and reference is therefore had to Fig. 8 in which the numeral 2| designates a strip of sheet stock'of suitable width for cutting out the disks in a manner shown. In this in stance the strip 2! is formed of paper having a coating of a material known as is a composition formed of rubber and paramn wax such as described in Patent 2,054,114. I do not, however, wish to limit myself to this specific composition, since any sheet may be employed which has 'suflicient strength, imperviousness to water,

under mild heat and pressure or under either of these forces. I have, however, found the above described material to be admirably suited to the purpose, and prefer to have the paper sheet coated on only one side, which is the side opposite to that Shown in Fig. 8,

In making the cap I first cut the stock into strips of suitable width such as shown at 2| and form therein spaced registering holes on opposite sides, of the strip as shown at 22 and 23 for view of the paper strip from' the line l6l6 of Fig. 15.

a single piece of stock out to Paraseal," which and which has surfaces which will adhere either I dicia frequently being 7 will fall in the center of Cerably performed bend freely out 21, beginning at the cut and the longer score m numeral 38, the cylinder at caps in the shape ative movement spacedpointson' indicated at 24 preferably by printing,

in decorative and the name of the dairy or other deted information. The impressions are spaced along the at such points that they the cap subsequently formed therefrom. Preferably, though not necesprior to the die operations and the material rolled up into rolls preparatory to the cutting and form.- ing operations. v

The cutting and forming operations are prefsuccessively as I a continuous operation, the strip passing step by step through so that the strip the various die each die by operation formed in the sheet r indicia It, this coming being by pressingalong the dotted lines as at 25 for the purpose of causing the material to along these lines. In the next die eriphery of the material as :1, the shearing operation being inaft 28 so. that completely severed from the operation as shown at 28-, the

strip. This peripheral out also extends around the tab it and intersects the longer legs 21 of the scoring 25. In the next die operation indicated at 3|, arcuate cuts as shown at 32 are formed extending inwardly from the peripheral iimction between arks I! and extending to the outer ends of the shorter v-shaped scores. In indicated at It, circular through an arc score marks 33 ofthe the final die operation spaced score marks ll with the peripheral out 21 in disk, these score marks being. of

define the top edge oftha bottle so as to cause over the end of the the disk to bend smoothly bottle forming in effect a skirt for the cap which comprises that portion of the cap from the score marks" to the peripheral or msrginal'cut ks 29 and t3 and the cuts It. disk thusformed is break the uncut portions in from the remainder of the strip, neously with this severance the I this portion of the disk laterally into the osition shown in Fig. 2, the stock between the score marks It and 33 shown .injFlg. 3. At the conclusion of this die operation the completed cap is moved upward facing Fig. 8

and sever the cap and simultadispensing package shown in Fig. 2. By thus packaging the caps as a part of the anal die operation which serves to tightly nest the caps together in a tube or other package, I am enabled to compactly pack the caps between the various caps which might tend to cause interlocking of the caps and thereby interfere with the proper functioning of the feeding mechanism in the automatic capper. In other words, the feeding mechanism of the die folding inward as and avoid relstack one at 1 the last die operation and inserting sarily. theprinting may be performed at a time Small folds of skirt is formed 18 so that the section of material figure. Thereafter scribed, the Overlapping skirt will adhere,

the purpose of accurately locatina the strip durcopper must select the caps one at a time and im; the successive operations to be performed this is not conveniently possible ii the caps so thereon. Thereafter if desired I impress at interlock that the do not come away from the a time. This interlocking may be caused by relative rotation as between the caps of a stack, and I avoid any possibility of this action by packing the caps directly as a part of the pa thus formed directly into the cappin mecha- Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 3, it will be seen that during the forming operation the skirt bends along the scored lines 29 and indicated by the numeral 31 which is positioned between these scored lines rotates inwardly along the scored line 2! so that in the completedcap it restsin a plane approaching right angles with respect to the remainder of the skirt. It will also be observed that the arcuate of toes 38 which move inward under the adiacent part of the skirt as shown at 39 and rest against the inner suriace of the skirt.

In the form shown in Figure 1 I have provided twelve folds} and while the exact number of folds is not critical, the number should not be excessive because a suitable-amount of overlap should be provided to make a good seal. will vary with the size of the cap and will normally lie between I crimp-like nature should be avoided. a

Referring now to Fig. 4, I have therein shown the manner in which the cap is applied to a milk bottle. The neck of the milk bottle is designated by the numeral 4| and the bottle has the conventional disk 42 inserted therein and forming the primary seal or cap for the bottle. During the capping operations the hood cap is dropped over the mouth of the bottle as shown in this a portion of the capping mechanism herein shown in dotted lines and including a rubber or other resilient cup I! and actuating arms 44 and tially of the cup, move downward-over the cap until the lower edge 46 of the cup is below the marginal edge of the cap. The arms 44 and 4! are then moved inward flexing the sides of the cup, causing the portions 31 of the skirt to collapse and pressing the material upon itself in arms 44 for the purpose-of heating these parts. 7 and transmitting the heat to the skirt. It will be seen that the heat sensitive material is on the inner surface of the cap so that when the cap is pressed against the bottle in the manner deor folded portions of the and when the cup 43 is removed, the cap will remain in the position shown in Figs. 5 to '1, inclusive, thus forming a waterproof hood over the outer end of the bottle.

1 these toes which,

Important features of the invention are the fact that the toes 38 fold under the adjacent part of the skirt so that they present no obstacle to the downward'passage of the cup 43 as it passes over the cap during the capping operation, and to the arcuate shape of the upper edge of in case of an accident such that the toe should fold onto the outer side of the cap, permit the cup to slide down over the toe cuts 32 form a plurality about seven and fifteen folds.

l5 spaced circumierenwithout catching thereon and severing the toe from the cap. Another important feature is the fact that the scores 3! are so positioned that when the skirt is folded against the side of the bottle by downward movement of the cup 43, the

edge of the flap formed thereby is parallel with the longitudinal center line of the bottle so that v99.9% perfect, below which no cap can be long commercially successfuL' Furthermore, it permits of convenient hand capp ng where this may be necessary. I

Directing attention now more particularlyto the forms shown in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, this form while embodying substantially the same invention as in the previous form. has certain characteristics rendering it more desirable for certain purposes.- This form is characterized by the fact that the conventional disk bottle cap such as shown at 42 in Fig. 4 is placed on the outer side of the hood cap, and the central portion of the hood cap seats down into the neck of the bottle against the cap retaining shoulder. Likewise, the method of making the cap varies somewhat because of the different form, though in general following the same steps as shown in Fig. 8. In this instance the first step is the cutting of the holes 22 and 28. In this instance, because of the insertion of a printed disk, the indicia 24 is not impressed directly on the strip. The second step as indicated at I! is the impression of the scoring II including the score lines 20 and the score lines It. The next step as indicated at 48 is the cutting of the periphery 21, again leaving the uncut portions II as described in connectionwith Fig. 8. A the next step in the method as indicated at 4!, a paper disk II is inserted under thedie in this position, the paper'disk bearing suitable indicia on its upper surface and where necessary or desired the lower surface maybe coated with a suitable glue or adhesive. The next step of the method as indicated at I! is thestep of making the boiling point of water. Using this material for the disk II. the cap may be made by employ? ing the steps first of forming the holes 22 and II, thereafter forming the scoring 25 in a step designated by the numeral Ii, subsequently forming the peripheral cuts 21 in a step indicated by the numeral 51, thereafter forming the cuts 32 in a step indicated by the numeral II, and in a final step "inserting the disk ll formed of the above described material and having the adhesive coating on its lower-surface, between the dies. In this instance the upper member of the die is heated sumciently to cause adherence of the disk to the upper surface of the hood sheet. Likewise, in this instance, the die is so shaped as to depress the central portion of the hood cap as shown at I4 and forming the pleats II. These operations are pre-formed at this station and by a single set of dies in addition to the functions performed in the method shown in Fla. 8.

Referring now to Fig. 9, the hood cap is of substantially the same form as that shown in Fig. 4,

with the exception that the disk ii is seated on the outer surface of the central portion ii of the cap, and the cap is shaped so that the central portion and the disk II will seat down against the cap retaining shoulder i! normally present on milk bottles. The skirt of the cap is identical with the form shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, and

functions in like manner.

In Figs. .12 to 18, I have shown afurther embodiment of the invention wherein the cap is formed from a circular sheet of material and is produced entirely through forming and scoring operations without resort to cutting the periphery thereof. In this instance the disk or sheet is "provided with circular spaced scoring lines ll concentric with the periphery of the sheet and of a diameter to be received against the upper end of the bottle neck defining the central portion it of the cap and the skirt portion I! thereof. The skirt portion has annularly spaced pairs of scoring lines 3! extending from edgeto edge thereof and diverging scoring lines 61 and II forming wedge-shaped folding portions 69 and H on opposite sides of each pair of scoring lines II. This arrangement of scoring is repeated around the periphery of the skirt, and the skirt is formed or bent at the scoring line to produce the structure shown in Fig. 13. This cap is applied to the bottle in the same manner as that shown iniig. 4 and by means of the same equipthe arcuate cuts 82 and where necessary applying Pressure to the disk Ii for the it to adhere. The final step indi ted at It includes the same operations as indicated at I4 in connection with Fig. 8, with the 3 exception that in this instance the die, instead of forming the annular scores II, forms-a central recess in the disk as best indicated at I in Fig. 9, simultaneously forming a plurality of small pleats 7 5|, the concluding operation of this step being to method shown in Fig. 11 the strip material 2| comprises a strip of paper. having the so-called Paraseal coating which is substantially nonadhesive at normal atmospheric temperatures but develops its adhesive properties at atmospheres somewhat above 100 F. and considerably below of the method as ment, and when applied, the skirt is folded in the manner shown in Figs. 14 to 16, inclusive. .In this instance the adhesive, which is preferably the Paraseal material previously described.

may be positioned on either or both sides of the sheet. It will be seen that when the adhesive is positioned on the inner surface of the cap, the inner surfaces of the overlapping portions II and II will adhere against the inner surfaces of a portion 12 formed by the creasing lines 86. On the other hand, if the adhesive is on the outer surface of the cap, the outer surfaces of the folded portions I! and II will adhere to intermediate portions ll of the cap skirt. In either case the periphery ofthe skirt will be confined against the outer surface of the bottle below the bead 14 thereof as shown in Figs. 14 and 18. Where both sides of the sheet carry adhesive, the opposite sides of the folded portions 0! and II will adhere to the portions l2 and 13 making a stronger 4 2,305,744 lines 68 are so located'that as the skirt is folded 3. The combination in a bottle cap of the charabout the neck of the bottle, these lines fall paracter described of a cup-shaped sheet of paperallel with the longitudinal center line of the like material having an adhesive surface, said bottle and parallel with the direction of travel sheet having an efiectively fiat central portion t against the shoulder of a milk of the cup 43, so that as the cup moves down- 5 adapted to sea rtion ior recepward over the neck of the bottle, these scoring bottle, a peripherally raised p0 tion against the inner walls of the bottle and a lines tend to -produce the proper folding of the partially pre-formed'skirt.-- depending skirt portion, said skirt having annu- While I have thus described and illustrated larly spaced arcuate cuts extending in a somespecific embodiments of the invention, I do not what radial direction across a part of the width wish to be limited except as required by the prior of the skirt defining fastening toes, and score art and the scope of the appended claims, in lines converging from the ends of said cuts to a whichpoint near the periphery of said central portion I claim: 7 t0 define folds in the skirt, the skirt being folded 1. The combination in a bottle cap of the charwith the toes underlying the skirt to adhere to acter described of a sheet of paper-like material having an adhesive surface scored and folded gathered around the neck of a bottle, and a disk into a cup shape, said sheet having a central seated against the exterior of said central poraily raised portion.

portion and an annular skirt, said' skirt having tion and within said peripher te cuts extending in a 4. The combination in a bottle cap of a diskannularly spaced arcua somewhat radial direction across a portion of like sheet of paper shaped to overlie the mouth the width of the skirt defining toes, and a piuof the bottle and enclose a portion of the neck defining folded areas, said scores thereof having a heat sensitive waterproof coatbeing positioned on the skirt so that the exterior ing, said sheet having annularly spaced arcuate edge of the folds is parallel with the longitudinal cuts approaching tangential relationship with center line of the bottle when applied thereto, radii of the sheet forming toes, said sheet being the skirt being folded with the toes underlying formed to fold with said toes extending against the skirt. the inner side oi the sheet.

2. The combination recited in claim 1 wherein adhesive is positioned solely on the inner surface so RUDULPH SOERG.

of the cap.

the inner side of the skirt when the latter is 

